Israeli forces shoot dead a Palestinian wielding knife

Reuters Staff

2 Min Read

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian teen wielding a knife on Saturday in the occupied West Bank, police said.

A 17-year-old Palestinian approached a group of Israeli paramilitary policemen stationed at a West Bank junction, holding what appeared to be a bag, police spokeswoman Luba Samri said, and the troops then called on him to stop.

“The suspect suddenly whipped out a knife and accosted one of the troops. Other troops then opened fire and neutralized the suspect,” Samri said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the teenager had been killed. There was no other comment from Palestinian officials.

A wave of Palestinian street attacks that began in 2015 has slowed but not stopped. At least 268 Palestinians and one Jordanian citizen have been killed since the violence began.

Israel says at least 179 of those killed were carrying out attacks while others died in clashes and protests.

Forty-three Israelis, two U.S. tourists and a British student have been killed in Palestinian stabbings, shootings and car-rammings.

Israel blames the violence on incitement by the Palestinian leadership. The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, says desperation over the 50-year occupation of land sought by Palestinians for a state is the cause.

Palestinians want to establish an independent state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. The last round of peace talks broke down in 2014.